Once listed by police as one of the department's top 50 repeat offenders, a 35-year-old Brockton man was arrested on drug charges again Tuesday night.

Cody Shepard The Enterprise @cshepard_ENT

BROCKTON – When a city man resisted arrest by intentionally falling to the ground Tuesday night, police say he dropped a bag containing fentanyl and other drugs.

Detectives assigned to the Gang Unit were performing undercover patrols when they noticed a vehicle fail to stop at a stop sign on Cherry Street about 10:55 p.m.

The vehicle was then pulled over at Prospect and Eaton streets and police say they identified the driver as Nicholas Mendes.

“The driver was someone they had prior encounters with,” said police Detective Sgt. Michael Dennehy. “They smelled an odor or burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle when they approached it and noticed an open container of alcohol and a scale on the center console.”

The detectives then planned to have Mendes perform field sobriety exercises as he admitted to having a shot of alcohol, Dennehy said. But when they performed a pat frisk for safety, Mendes refused to put down a cell phone that was in his hand and started to resist by bending at the waist, he said.

“He said he had a bad back, but was ignoring all of their commands to stand up straight,” Dennehy said. “During the pat frisk, they located what they believed to be narcotics under his pants and he became very upset.”

Mendes told the officers they “planted something in my pants,” and started causing a disturbance by yelling, Dennehy said.

At that point, police say Mendes became limp and intentionally fell to the ground.

“As they were assisting him back up onto his feet, a clear plastic bag containing several baggies of white powder fell to the ground,” Dennehy said.

“The narcotics were in small twist-off plastic bags that were packaged for street-level distribution,” Dennehy said.

Detectives seized the drugs, digital scale and over $600 in cash.

Mendes, 35, of 144 Tribou St., Brockton, was arrested and charged with three counts of illegal possession with intent to distribute a Class B drug, resisting arrest and failing to stop at a stop sign.

Mendes, who was once listed by police as one of the department’s top 50 repeat offenders, has a lengthy criminal history, including other cocaine distribution charges. He was arrested last April when police say he broke a glass window to get into his girlfriend’s apartment.

He was expected to be arraigned in Brockton District Court on Wednesday.

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